The city of Albuquerque has announced that the Albuquerque Museum is currently hosting an exhibition titled "Coast to Coast to Coast: Indigenous Art from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection." The exhibition, curated and organized by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario, explores the dynamic interplay between present and past. It examines artists' connections with land, ancestors, and one another among those residing along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic coasts.
Curated in collaboration with Indigenous scholars, writers, knowledge keepers, and contemporary artists, "Coast to Coast to Coast" showcases a diverse collection of historic and contemporary art from across Canada. According to a press release by the city of Albuquerque, the exhibition includes selections from McMichael's early acquisitions of Indigenous art. This includes Inuit works and pieces from the Northwest coast of British Columbia. Spanning from 18th-century ceremonial regalia to contemporary works by artists such as Norval Morrisseau, Carl Beam, Kent Monkman and others, it offers a profound exploration of Indigenous experiences in Canada while highlighting vibrant and transformative cultures in the 21st century.
Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum director expressed his thoughts on this occasion. "The Albuquerque Museum is honored to showcase this impressive collection of historic and contemporary art," said Connors according to a press release by the city of Albuquerque. "We look forward to introducing New Mexican audiences to so many different powerful and provocative cultural traditions and innovations from Canada which are rarely seen here."
The Department of Arts & Culture in Albuquerque contributes significantly towards enhancing the city's cultural vibrancy with its 19 Public Library branches, two museums, two theaters, a zoo, an aquarium, a botanic garden and fishing ponds. According to information provided on their About webpage by the city of Albuquerque itself, their aim is elevating the quality of life for residents as well as visitors.